Monogram



Patented Dec. 29, 1936 2,0t5,918

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MONOGRAM Ivan Wolff, New York, N. Y.

Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,635

10 Claims. (01. 40-140) The subject of the present invention is a newsame time the monogram will be of substantially and. valuable type ofmonogram, to include two, the same thickness over such expanse where thethree or more individually prefabricated initials letters are sodesigned as to have substantially or letters, and a new form of initialor letter plane and parallel top and bottom face portions.

the combining of a plurality of which makes Another object is to providea plurality of 5 possible the provision of any monogram reprefabricatedletters so constructed that the quired for the display therein of theappropriate new monogram can be assembled from any letters. By a letter,as that word is used herein, group of letters selected, with theseletters comthere is meant a plate or equivalent element cut binable toform a monogram which will, even out or equivalently shaped to have anoutline when the letters have substantially plane and 10 in agreementwith an outline of a letter of the parallel top and bottom faceportions, present alphabet, that is, a letter peripheral portions anunusually massive appearance in comparison of which coincide with andare defined by with the actual amount of material present. peripheralportions of such plate. Another object is to provide a plurality of By amonogram there is meant a number of prefabricated letters so shaped thatthe new 15 letters so arranged that each of the letters has monogram canbe assembled from any several one or mbre parts thereof crossing over orletters selected, whether all the letters are difmerging with one ormore parts of each of the ferent ones, as A, B and C, or two of them areimmediately adjoining letters. duplicates, as A, B and B, or all threeare alike, Previously made monograms having a part as C, C and C. 20 ofone letter crossing over or merging with a Another object is to providea plurality of part of another have been specially made as prefabricatedletters not only combinable to pro-. complete monograms; for instance,by so sawduce a monogram pursuant to the invention as ing or otherwisecutting out various portions above, but also thus combinable regardlessof from a single sheet of the selected metal or the order in which theletters are placed in the 25 other material as to define certainbounding monogram. To explain more clearly: Assuming, lines of theletters making up the monogram. for example, that the letters to becombined In other words, the monogram desired has to be in the monogramare A, B and C, or even A, B, cut to order. Such a monogram is verycostly, C and D, an object of the invention, and one now in View of thelarge amount of hand labor rebelieved to be of large importance to makethe 30 quired; and some considerable time must be invention practicable,is so to shape each of the allowed for its manufacture. letters thatalways the same three or four let- One of the objects of the presentinvention is ters can be used to provide a monogram purto provide a setof prefabricated letters such that suant to the invention, regardless ofwhich one a monogram can be made up of a plurality of of the sixdifferent sequential possibilities of the 35 selected letters, whateverbe the letters selected, letters A, B and C to wit, ABC, ACB, BAC, BOA,practically instantaneously. CAB and CBA, or of which one of the 24 dif-Another object is to provide a set of fabriferent sequentialpossibilities of the letters A, B, cated letters suitable forcombination to form C and D, be required to give the monogram speamonogram as above, and at the same time a cially ordered. With theletters thus inter- 40 monogram the appearance of which will suggestchangeable, as to placement in the monogram that different letters areintermerged rather there is avoided, in the case of a two letter monthanactually placed so that one merely parogram, any need to provide eachletter in two tially overlaps another. different shapes, one a right andthe other a Another object of the invention, nevertheless, left; and,similarly, to take care of three and 45 is so to shape the letters thatone letter will four letter monograms, differently shaped actuallypartially overlap another in the monorights, centers and lefts, anddifferently gram. shaped rights, right centers, left centers Anotherobject of the invention, however, is and lefts, need not be provided.Otherwise so; to shape the letters that, although the obstated, it is anobject of the invention to pro- 50 jects above stated are attained whileso shaping vide, for the purpose of obtaining a monogram the lettersthat in any monogram each pair of pursuant to the invention, a set ofletters includadjoining letters lap one another, the rear face ing allthe letters of the alphabet, but with all or bottom of the monogram willbe substantially the letters of this set so made that each of theuniplanar over its main expanse, and at the diiferent letters A, B, C, Dand so on, is always of 55 one shape, whether that letter is the first,the last or the middle letter of the monogram or some other letter ofthe monogram intermediate its general line of extension,cross-sectionally.

Such cross-sectional shape results from a depressing of the top surfaceof the letter along one portion of the outline of the letter and from anelevation of the bottom surface of the letter along a portion of itsoutline opposite to that first-mentioned. These opposite portions of theoutline of the letter can be, for example, those two sides of the letterwhich are marked by the oppositely located bounds of the letterextending heightwise of the outline thereof, where the monogram is to bebuilt up widthwise of the letters, or those two sides of the letterwhich are marked by the oppositely located bounds of the letterextending widthwise of the outline thereof, where the monogram is to bebuilt up heightwise of the letters. These depressions and elevations areherein referred to broadly as tapers; which tapers if plane areparallel, and which if otherwise shaped, as, for instance, convex,concave, undulating or stepped, are preferably nicely accuratecounterparts, so that one on one side of any letter can be matchinglyfitted against the one on the other side of any letter. When the lettersof a monogram built up according to the invention are closelyinterfitted at such tapers, not only is the invention mostsatisfactorily carried out to attainall the objects foregoing, but thesecurement of such letters to each other or to any suitable support forholding the letters to their appointed locations for presenting thedesired monogram, is facilitated, practically regardless of the mode ormeans employed to attain such securement, and regardless also of thetype of the support.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich illustratively show various now favored of the many possible waysof carrying out the invention.

In said drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts:

Fig. l is a top plan of one form of monogram according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the same in end elevation looking toward the basal edges ofthe letters;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the letter I;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing such I in end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the top face of the letter J;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing such J in end elevation;

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing a different monogram,yet one including the same letters and letters of the same outline as inFig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing said monogram of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing still another monogram;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the monogram of Fig. 9; V

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing stillanother monogram;

Fig. 11a. is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the monogram of Fig. 11;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of such a letter as -L looking toward thebasal edge thereof, and

illustrating a form of taper shaping not elsewhere shown;

Fig. 13 is a similar elevation of such a letter, showing still adifferent form of taper shaping;

Fig. 14 is a similar view, showing still a dif-' ferent form of tapershaping;

Fig. 15 is a similar view, showing still a different form of shaping;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 3 or 5, but showing the letter X, andsuch letter of a special form; and I Fig. 17 is a view showing, invertical section, a mounting frame for a monogram including lettersshaped in accordance with Fig. 16, and also showing said letter X, inside elevation, in place in said frame.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the monogram shown is one made up ofthe letters B, A and F, arranged in the order stated; these lettersbeing respectively marked 20, 2| and 22. As best shown in Fig. 2, eachletter has a descending upper surface or tapered d opposite an ascendany one of the six possible monograms which can'- be made from thesethree letters; since in every case the taper a of one letter will fitagainst the taper d of any adjoining letter. In each such case, themonogram, although of uniform thickness all over its major-expanse, andwith the mafior portions of its front and back faces plane and parallel,has a really surprising appearance. It has the appearance, onlyimperfectly indicated in Fig. 1, that its main upper surfaces are thoseof really massive parts overlying and downwardly merging into the partstherebelow. This appearance, strikingly attractive, is apparently acharacteristic of any possible embodiment of the invention, even whenthe letters are fabricated of comparativelythin stock. 1

The design of block letters shown in Fig. 1, although the same generaldesign is used throughout the drawing, is selected for simplicity ofillustration merely. Any design of letters, either with heightwise sidesinclined or otherwise shaped, or with widthwise sides inclined orotherwise shaped, and whether more elaborate block letters or rathergrotesquely distorted ones, or script, Gothic or other letters, can beemployed. Referring to the plain block letters shown throughout thedrawing, these can be varied not only as just indicated but otherwise;for instance, they can be considerably attenuated heightwise orwidthwise thereof, as can, of course, any other design of lettersadopted. Nor need the top and bottom faces of the letters be plane, orplane and parallel. Also, although in the forms illustrated, the tapersextend widthwise of the letters, they can extend otherwise, aslengthwise of the letters. Again, while in the forms illustrated thedescending tapers d are leftwardly directed and the ascending tapers: aare rightwardly directed, such arrangement can be reversed, in any formof the invention where these tapers are at opposite locations across theface of the letter widthwise thereof.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a letter Iis shown at 23 which could be usedwith the set of letters but that these tapers of I, in view of thereduced width of the I, are less extensive widthwise of the letter thanthe same tapers of the letters B, A and F and those letters as wide asB, A

and F.

Referring to Figs. and 6, a letter J is shown at 24 which could be usedwith the set of letters just referred to. Note that here also the sameangle is employed for the tapers a. and d of J. Since this J is shown ashaving a width which is less than that of the other letters except I,but a width greater than that of I, here again we have a distinctlydiiferent cross-sectional result.

Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, the same letters here appear as are shownin Figs. 1 and 2. But a decidedly different decorative efiect isobtained. The tapers corresponding to the tapers a and d of Figs. 1 and2, instead of extending over substantially 50% of the face of the letteras in Figs. 1 and 2, extend over only about 25% of the face of theletter. The end elevations of the letters B, A and F are indicated inFig. 8 at 25, 26 and 21, respectively.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, in this monogram there is employed a letterB which is the same B as that shown in Figs. 1 and 7 except that here itis narrower in width, being as wide as the J of Fig. 5. Employing this Bin combination with the letters I and J of Figs. 3 and 5, and keeping tothe same angle for the tapers of these letters as employed in Fig. '7for the wider letters there shown, another pleasing type of monogram isobtained, that seen in Fig. 9. The end elevations of the letters J, Band I of Fig. 9 are indicated in Fig. 10 at 28, 29 and 30, respectively.

Thus even from plain stock having flat parallel faces, and even with thesame block letters, a large number of variations in appearance of themonogram can be obtained. These variations follow from the angle oftaper and/or the degree in which the taper extends laterally over theface of the letter and/or the thickness of the stock. It will be notedthat the letters of Figs. 1 and '7 and the letters J and B of Fig. 9,since the top and bottom faces of these letters are plane and parallel,and their tapers are also plane and parallel, are all rhomboidal in endelevation.

Important variations of appearance in the completed monogram can beobtained by shaping the upper faces of the letters, beyond theirdescending tapers, in any way or ways desired.

As one illustration, reference is made to Figs. 11 and 11a; where, forexample, the letters C, R and K are shown at 30, 3! and 32,respectively, and where, with the bottom faces of such letters plane,the top faces thereof are arcuately convex widthwise of the letter. Ashere shown, also, the descending tapers on the letters are the parts ofsuch convexities at the left hand sides of the letters, and theascending tapers on the letters, one of which, that for the letter K, ismarked a in Fig. 11a, are concavities forming counterparts of saiddescending tapers.

Even, for instance, with the top and bottom faces of the letters planeand parallel, other decorative results can be obtained by using othertypes of ascending and descending tapers than plane ones, but so shapedthat one on one letter will matchingly engage the other on an adjoiningletter. Some of the possibilities in this regard are illustrated inFigs. 12, 13, 14 and the tapers here shown being marked l2a and [2d inFig. 12, 13a. and I311 in Fig. 13, Ma and Md in Fig. 14 and l5a and l5din Fig. 15. It will be noted that the tapers of Fig. 14 are widthwiselycurvilinearly undulant, while the tapers of Fig. 15 are stepped, andangularly stepped, at a plurality of points across their widths.

As already indicated, any suitable way of permanently establishing thenew monogram can be adopted; that is to say, the present invention isnot concerned especially with the means employed to establish themonogram either by anchoring the component letters together or bysecuring such letters to a suitable support. Such letters could besecured together, of course, by riveting them togetherat their lappedportions, by soldering on in any way desired. Or they could be securedtogether by anchoring them in place on a suitable support in such mannerthat as the result of such anchoring the lapped portions of the letterswill be held against shifting from such lapping. If the monogram is tobe a fob or pendant of any kind, it will probably be better to securethe letters directly together by way of their lapped portions, in somesuitable way. If, on the other hand, the monogram is to be mounted on apiercable support, as the leather covering of a purse, bag or the like,or in a rigid frame of metal, the letters need not be joined at theirlapped portions. As to leather bags or the like, the monogram can befixed thereon by mounting the individual letters, when lapped pursuantto the invention, by means of flexible prongs soldered or otherwisesecured to the bottom faces of the letters in ways well known in theart. Any such prong or equivalen is attached to a letter, of course, ata point such that there will be no interference with the previsedlapping of that letter by an adjoining one. In this connection, seeFigs. 9 and 10, and note the pair of prongs, marked 10 and p, on theletter I. Where the monogram is to be established on a support bymounting the letters. in a frame of metal or the like, any one of thevarious expedients well known in the art for mounting merely a line ofindividually completely visible letters in such a frame can be adopted,but always, of course, to have the frame seize other edge portions ofthe letters than those carrying the tapers. Referring now to Figs. 16and 1'7, one such expedient is illustrated in connection with arectangular frame 33, shown only in Fig. 17, and the letter X, marked 34in Figs. 16 and 17,, mounted in such frame. This frame, along its topand bottom members, at the underside of the former and at the upper sideof the latter, carries a beadlike straight rib 35 and across theportions of the T at its widthwise sides are grooves 35. The letters tomake up the monogram are snapped into the frame by pressure applied attheir backs, that is, in the direction of the arrow 31 in Fig. 17;

the frame giving a trifle, or the letter springing elastically out ofthe flat, or both these actions occurring, at the instant the grooves ofa letter snap beyond the frame ribs and look about the same. As will beunderstood, the letters are snapped one by one into the frame in theorder corresponding to that in which they are to have mutually lappingportions in the monogram being set into the frame.

I claim:

1. A plurality of elements each having an outline in agreement withanoutline of a different letter of the alphabet, all said elements beingmade so as to be of substantially the same thickness at their medianportions, each of said ele ments having two oppositely located portionsof reduced thickness each including a part of the periphery of theletter, one of such reduced por- 2 tions having a back face formingsubstantially a smooth continuation of the back face of the medianportion of the element and the other of said reduced portions having afront face forming a substantially smooth continuation of the front faceof said median portion.

2. A plurality of elements each having an outline in agreement with anoutline of a different letter of the alphabet, all said elements beingmade so as to be substantially the same thickness, each of said elementshaving two oppositely located reduced portions, one of said reducedportions having a face at the back of the element and the other of saidreduced portions having a face at the front of the element, said facesbeing substantially parallel and defining between them the maximumthickness of the element. A

3. A plurality of elements each having an outline in agreement with anoutline of a different letter of the alphabet, all said elements beingmade so as to be of substantially the same thick ness, each of saidelements being shaped across the same to have top and bottom surfaceelements both below the top and above the bottom of the element, thesetop and bottom surface elements being along opposite sides of theelement.

4. A plurality of elements each having an outline in agreement with anoutline of a diiferent letter of the alphabet, all said elements beingmade so as to be of substantially the same thickness, each of saidelements being thinned away at diagonally opposite portions, thesethinned away portions being shaped for the fitting of one such portionon one element against one such portion on another element to allowpartial lapping of a plurality of the elements to give a monogrameffect. I

5. A plurality of elements each having an outline in agreement with anoutline of a different letter of the alphabet, all said elements beingmade so as to be of substantially the same thickness, each of saidelements being shaped to a diminished thickness along each of two linesat opposite sides of the element, each of such diminished portionshaving a substantially plane surface, said surfaces being parallel, oneof said surfaces coinciding with the top of the element and the othercoinciding with the bottom of the element.

6. A plurality of elements each having an out line in agreement with anoutline of a different letter of the alphabet, all said elements beingmade so as to be of substantially the same thickness, each of saidelements being shaped to have oppositely located portions of reducedthickness, the overlying surface of one of said portions being acounterpart of the underlying surface of the other portion.

7. A plurality of elements each having an outline in agreement with anoutline of a different letterof the alphabet, all said elements being,made so as to be of substantially the same thickness, each of saidelements being shaped to have oppositely located portions of reducedthickness,

the overlying surface of one of said portions being a counterpart of theunderlying surface of the other portion, said overlying surface beingbelow the topmost point of the top face of the element and saidunderlying surface being above the bottommost point of the bottom faceof the element.

8. A plurality of elements each having an .out-

line in agreement with an outline of a different letter of the alphabet,all said elements being a made so as to be of substantially the samethickness, each of said elements being shaped to have diagonallydisposed and oppositely directed portions of less thickness, saidportions being so shaped that an upper surface of one such portion onone element will fit against an undersurface of the other such portionon another element elements where thus lapped substantially equal to thethickness first-mentioned.

9. A plurality of elements each having an outline in agreement with anoutline of a different letter of the alphabet, all said elements beingmade so as to be of substantially the same thickness, each of saidelements being reduced in thickness along opposite sides, the top faceof each element being lowered at one of these thickness reductions andthe bottom face of each element being raised at the other of thesethickness reductions, such raised and lowered surface elements on eachelement being matchingly' shaped so that one of such surface elements ofone element may be fitted against the other of such surface elements ofany other element, to cause partial lapping of such elements regardlessof which element is placed ahead of another.

10. A monogram including a plurality of elements each individuallyprefabricated to have an outline in agreement with an outline of aletter of the alphabet, each of said elements being thinned alongoppositely located sides, one of such thinnings being at the upper faceof the element and the other at the bottom face of the element, the twoelements of each pair of said elements immediately adjoining beinglapped at their thinned portions; a thinning at the upper face of anyelement being shaped to fit against a thinning at the under surface ofany other element whereby in a monogram made up of any of said elementsthe sum of the thicknesses of any pair of lapped element portions issubstantially equal to the thickness of an element beyond such portions.

IVAN WOLFF.

